Those hoping to become resident assistants at Binghamton University may learn that it’s harder than it looks, as more applicants are becoming wait-listed each semester.
When Residential Life hosted an informational meeting about the position last fall, 517 students attended and 298 applied. Out of those candidates, 208 were deemed “hirable,” with 84 chosen as RAs for the fall 2009 semester. The other 124 students were placed on a wait list.
“We’re happy with the talent levels of those [who] applied, but there aren’t enough openings for everyone,” Colin Coleman, a resident director for College-in-the-Woods’ Cayuga Hall and chair for RA selection, said.
ResLife compiled the wait list to have backup options in case a current RA left the job.
Students who applied last fall can stay on the wait list until spring 2010, and if there is an opening, the building’s resident director can choose a candidate from the pool that best suits the needs of their building.
“A student might get an internship or decide to study abroad, in which case they would leave mid-year and a new student would take their role,” Coleman said.
In crowded communities with forced triples like College-in-the-Woods, the application process has become more selective.
“When you have buildings with over-occupied rooms, there is a higher probability of having some kind of conflict,” Coleman said. “I want to make sure the RAs on my floors are ready to mediate any problems.”
For one student, the decision to stay on the wait list forced him to find alternative housing plans.
Russell Salzman, a sophomore accounting and political science major, decided to room in Hillside Community after he was placed on the list. He said he would leave his suitemates if he got the job, but the opening in his apartment would be difficult to fill as other students have already been signing up for housing throughout March.
“It was kind of stressful, because I didn’t want to commit to something with my friends, then leave them,” Salzman said.
Coleman advised those who were wait-listed to go through the housing sign-up process as usual to secure a room for this fall.
The selection process for RAs includes being interviewed and monitored during group exercises, where hypothetical problems between residents are brought forth. Candidates are interviewed by both building RDs and current RAs.
“Through this process we’re easily able to grasp the real motivation as to why a student applied, such as the want for their own room,” Sarah Courtney, an RD for Newing College’s Bingham Hall and an RA selection chair, said.
Salzman said he thought he did well in the hypothetical scenarios, but felt the grading system could use improvement.
“They had one person following four people on how they handled the situation,” he said. “And it seemed like they were responsible for observing too much.”
The newer, larger version of Bingham Hall that is now under construction will be filled with RAs from current Newing buildings.
“These are perfectly qualified candidates, but we don’t have the space up front yet to house them,” Courtney said.